Body positivity 💕@simplyselflove_

Images by simplyselflove_

Day 2 of #simplysevendays is kindness and I demonstrated this by agreeing to a photo shoot for a photographer who needed a model for a project.
I woke up feeling apprehensive about the shoot, questioning my appearance and my confidence. I almost let my mind win until I remembered just how important it is to be kind. It is so important to help others.
I put on some makeup and some Beyoncé music as instant confidence boosters before driving to the shoot. I managed to quickly take this photo of myself to prove the irrational thoughts in my mind wrong. The thing is, despite it not being for me, it made me so happy. I felt great to help someone out and I loved the company.
Sometimes just a simple gesture can be the turning point of someone's day. It doesn't have to cost money, or even too much time. A smile could be so helpful for someone having a bad day. Yes, it is important to look after yourself but it is also important to help others.
We are all humans in this crazy world together. We need to strive to work together and uplift each other. •
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How did you demonstrate kindness to yourself or someone else today? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

Day 1 #simplysevendays
Today's theme is self care which is so important to me. You deserve to take time to look after yourself although it can sometimes be difficult to allocate the time.
I had initially planned to make the day all about me. I only got as far as a manicure before I could see that wasn't going to happen. I started the day with a negative mood and felt hopeless. I had so much work to do but no motivation and didn't think I would have any time for self care.
However, I suddenly decided to change my mindset. Yes, the day had started off badly, but there was no reason why I couldn't change that around and have a good day. I adopted this positive attitude and, as my form of self care, released some of the pressure I had built up on myself.
The truth is, you don't have to have a perfect day and even us body positivity accounts are allowed to have "bad" days. We are human, after all. However, it was me who was in control of my happiness.
I spent today laughing, enjoying time with family and knocking off a few tasks that I had been worried about. There were no bubble baths or face masks involved but yet I still feel like I have looked after myself. Self care comes in many different forms. •
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What is your favourite type of self care? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

My challenge starts tomorrow #simplysevendays and I'm excited to show you the daily topics I have chosen as focal points! I have chosen these themes to help to promote self-love and body positivity whilst still giving you lots of freedom!
It is up to you how you want to interpret each theme. It is okay to think outside the box, I am looking forward to seeing how you have chosen to convey the themes and can't wait to feature your posts on my story!
Ensure to post your challenge photos with the hashtag #simplysevendays so I am able to see your posts. I'm really looking forward to being able to connect with everyone as a community and share some self love!
I would like to thank @safari_ari_95 for helping to provide inspiration for this challenge. Please check out her account for empowering and inspiring body positivity posts. Make sure to follow her on her journey, you won't regret it!
Why not help to spread the word even more? You could repost this photo or even tag a friend in the comments. Let's bring each other up with positivity!
I'm excited to see your posts tomorrow! We can do this! •
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Are you going to take part in the challenge? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

You are worthy of love and belonging. You deserve to feel happy and you also deserve to look after yourself. Sometimes our minds like to tell us otherwise and that is okay, however, you are so worthy.
Whether we like it or not, there will always be people in life who thrive on bringing others down. Despite being told to "ignore the haters", words can really hurt and we can cling onto them, letting them make an impact on our confidence. Sometimes it can be so beneficial to distance yourself from these toxic people. Why surround yourself with people that bring you down when there could be some positive people right around the corner?
You deserve happiness no matter what mistakes you feel you have made. It is okay if you feel guilty or ashamed of a previous incident, however, as human beings, this is so normal. Mistakes are great building blocks for bettering yourself and should be seen as a learning experience instead of a way to beat ourselves up.
I am still growing as a person, so are you. You are doing so well and I urge you to look after yourself and realise how many people there are that care about you.
You are worthy of love and belonging. You will find people who bring you up and genuinely care about you. It is okay if your memories of the past aren't good, you now have the opportunity to sculpt your future memories. •
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What is one thing you love about yourself? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

With it being Valentine's Day tomorrow, I want to you to know that you are amazing regardless of your relationship status.
When the gifts start rolling out in shops, they can make you feel instantly worthless. It is okay to feel that way! I started feeling the same until I took a second to realise that I don't need to be in a relationship to be a great person.
You are an amazing person and just because you haven't found "the one" yet, doesn't mean you aren't beautiful or aren't interesting. You are full of so much worth and, let's be honest, you don't need some heart shaped chocolates to tell you that.
If you're single, why not take this Valentine's Day to love yourself? You deserve it! •
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Have you got any plans for Valentine's Day? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

Facial hair is so normal whether you are male or female, young or old. It is so normal and yet we are still struggling to normalise it, still being advertised hair removal products and treatments that we "need" to purchase.
I was told from a young age that my eyebrows were too bushy. I was told I had a monobrow and society made me believe that that was a negative thing. It wasn't long before people starting looking at other areas of my face, telling me I had a moustache and side burns. I, as a young girl, let those words sculpt my mind and I was constantly found with tweezers in hand.
I am here to tell you just how natural facial hair is. Some people naturally have darker, thicker hair but it does not take away from your beauty. It is not a flaw, simply a reminder that you are human.
Also, having facial hair isn't strictly for males. You can be a male without facial hair and that does not take away from your masculinity. You can be a female with facial hair and that doesn't take away from your femininity. Facial hair does not have a gender, no matter what the airbrushed photos in magazines may tell you.
You are beautiful, facial hair or no facial hair. It is okay if you make the decision to remove your facial hair, however, if you are doing it for society, not yourself, you might want to reconsider this decision.
Facial hair is so normal. You are beautiful.
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What is one thing you are grateful for today? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

Here is a reminder that sometimes taking good photos is all about the lighting or angles. These two photos were taken seconds apart and yet one of them I like and one of them I considered deleting.
Don't let seeing a "bad" photo of you knock your confidence. It is not a real representation of how you look whatsoever. You are not alone if you quickly untag yourself from photos or delete photos from your gallery. We all have photos which we feel flatter us more than others.
Also remember how many filters are often applied to photos. Lots of celebrities hire professional photographers and managers just for their Instagram page. It is okay if you struggle to see beauty in yourself after looking at a what seems flawless selfie of your friend. You are beautiful, photos are not real life, a selfie and the amount of likes it gets does not define you.
Finally, I just want to address how unrealistic and demanding these "golden hour" photos can be. I was ready to jump onto the trend without thinking of the dreary UK weather, squinting and angles.
You are beautiful no matter what those photos make you think! •
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What is one thing you are looking forward to? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ). You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

Sometimes looking at old pictures can go from being nostalgic to being upsetting and scary. This is younger me. Just looking at this photo gives me bittersweet emotions.
I am proud of what I have become but it is also okay that these photos makes me feel anxious. The truth is, time goes quickly and it is okay if that scares you. It is completely normal to be afraid of time.
It is okay if you miss the past. It is completely understandable since it is likely that you had a lot less responsibilities and things to worry about. However, there are so many beautiful things happening in the present moment and so many beautiful things to come. Think about how amazing it is that you're still alive, you're still going.
I also like to try and embrace change. Whilst change can be so difficult and uncomfortable, it can also be refreshing. Change doesn't have to be negative. For example, you can have control of your future and you may have to make changes to reach your goals.
You might wish you could have warned your younger self. You might wish you could have hugged them and told them about all of the beautiful things ahead. However, you cannot change the past. If your memories of your childhood were positive, it is okay to keep them in your mind, clinging on to every sound, scent and taste. However, the amazing thing about life is that you have the power to reinvent yourself, your future, your life.
You can't shape life for the younger self but you can shape life for your older self.
There are still so many beautiful things left to be a part of. Keep on going. •
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What is your favourite childhood memory? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

I'm excited to announce my upcoming 7-day challenge #simplysevendays ! This challenge will be all about promoting self love and positivity and I can't wait to share it with you!
I always found issues with challenges. I would find them difficult to follow and some would even cost money. My challenge gives you creative control over what you post and there is no pressure.
This challenge will start in a week on February 16th. I will be selecting a feel-good topic to make a post about for each of the days, and, if you make sure to use the hashtag, I will feature my favourite posts on my story.
I would like to thank @safari_ari_95 for helping to provide inspiration for this challenge. Please check out her account for empowering and inspiring body positivity posts. Make sure to follow her on her journey, you won't regret it!
Let's spread the word and connect with each other! I'd appreciate any reposts of my picture or even a mention of the hashtag. Ensure to tag me so I can see your wonderful posts.
We've all got to stick together and bring each other up. I think this challenge will be such a great opportunity to connect as a community! Why not tag a friend in the comments?
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Will you be participating in the challenge? Tell me in the comments! I'd love to get to know you!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

For as long as I can remember, I have picked my skin. It was just a habit that grew over time. I would see an imperfection, I would pick it. I would never let a scab heal.
However, it got to a point where this skin picking became a problem. I would pick at my skin causing infections and bleeding. This was never to hurt myself though. Despite it being triggered by stress, I just couldn't help myself. To put it simply, I had developed a bad habit.
I am here to tell you that your bad habits do not define you as a person. I remember covering my face with plasters feeling genuinely ashamed of what I had done. I felt embarrassed and often made excuses for the marks on my body. I honestly thought I was alone.
The thing is, whether we like to admit it or not, we all have habits that aren't very beneficial for ourselves. Whether it's procrastinating or overspending or whatever thing you struggle with, that is so valid and you aren't alone. As soon as I began opening up about my habit, I discovered so many people who had the same struggle.
It can be so frustrating when trying to break a habit. This way of living has been drilled into our heads so it's completely understandable that it might be difficult to stop. It is okay if you're having a hard time fixing your habit and it really does get easier over time.
Since my habit was often done without me even realising, I found the most helpful way was to place reminders around me. Post it notes on my mirrors were so useful and I eventually downloaded a habit tracker app. It was so beneficial for me.
When you start erasing your old habit, it can be so devastating to relapse. I felt so disappointed in myself before adopting a new attitude. Instead of giving up, I'd get back on track the next day. It is okay if you go back to your old ways. You are learning and growing. You will get back to where you reached.
Bad habits can be so difficult to break but you are a warrior with the willpower to change. •
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What are you proud of today? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open.

Self love is so important. To read the Instagram posts and articles telling you that is one thing. However, to actually take time out of your life and spend it on you is another.
People would tell me all my life to have some "chill time" and I'd smile and nod before staying up all night working. I could only physically keep this up for so long. The lack of sleep left me panicky and ill.
You deserve some time to yourself doing a form of self care that makes you happy. My self care varies depending on what my body needs, however, I find that finding a balance between nurturing my mind and body is the best.
Just taking the first step and starting self care can be so difficult, especially with the amount of responsibilities thrown at us. I know you may be struggling to find the time at the moment and that's okay. However, your health, both mental and physical, is so important and you deserve this time. You are priority. It may be difficult for you to see that but you are. There are people out there who genuinely care for you, you are doing enough, you are enough.
I used to sign myself up for too many things because I wanted perfection. Learning that perfection just simply isn't achievable is so refreshing. I starting getting doubts about posting this photo. Thoughts starting coming to my mind: "the lighting isn't good enough", " this post isn't creative enough". However, I took a step back and forgot about perfection.
You do not have to be perfect. You are enough and you deserve some time for yourself, no matter how much you disagree.
Take care of yourself, beautiful warrior. •
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What is your favourite method of self care? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

"Don't take a photo of my bad side", I say as I shuffle round to a different angle. The truth is, so many of us have a preferred side of their face. Just by scrolling through my selfies you can see a bias.
I didn't realise just how insecure I was about my left side of my face until I was working with a photographer. Every time she began to take photos of my "bad" side I would wince and try to move my face. I even tried to hide it at school, strategically leaning on my hand or giving my hair a deep parting.
I let myself believe that this side of my face was disgusting. Surely I couldn't be body confident with moles and a crooked nose.
Wrong. Looking at these photos side to side, I'm now able to see how wrong I was. Both sides are beautiful.
It is okay if you have a favourite side. I am still working on loving both sides equally and, if you feel more confident posing for a photo at a certain angle, do that! It is okay if you feel uncomfortable about your face but I want you to know how beautiful you are.
Imperfections are so normal! The thing is, our minds often have a tendency to criticise our own flaws. It is likely that the people around you won't think twice about that imperfection you are obsessing over.
I know how hard it is to fall in love with yourself. Finding self-love can be such a difficult journey. However, I know you can do this and you are so worthy of happiness. •
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What is your favourite feature of your face? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

It's #timetotalkday and I am here to tell you that it is okay to have a mental illness. It is okay if you're not always optimistic. I'm also here to remind you that just because my account and many others are promoting body positivity does not mean that we have perfect lives.
We are all human and there is nothing to be ashamed of in your emotions. One of the most frustrating things you can be told is to relax when your brain won't be quiet or to smile when your heart is hurting. Mental illnesses are real things, no matter how invisible they may seem to others. They are valid, you are valid, you are loved.
The thing about your brain is that it will sometimes fill with negative thoughts. It can sometimes get different to carry on. You are not alone, and just because you don't have a physical injury or condition it doesn't mean that it isn't real.
It is #timetotalk . By being open about our mental health, we are ending the stigma that surrounds it. So many people go through this alone and you shouldn't be made to feel that way. You are not alone.
Sometimes talking can be so beneficial. I hid my emotions for years letting them grow larger and larger in my chest until I finally revealed what had been going on in my mind. Sometimes simply talking can help. Not just yourself but someone else who might have been struggling.
It's time to talk, beautiful warrior. You are not alone.
@timetochangecampaign
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Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going, beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who needs a listener.

Ever feel like giving up? Ever feel like you've set the standard so high that there is no way you'll ever be able to reach that level again? That you're all worn out and the old you is gone?
It is okay if you've had this feeling. You are definitely not alone and, let me tell you this, the old you isn't gone. You are still so capable of achieving what you once could no matter how unrealistic this may sound to you.
It is completely fine if you are shaking your head right now, if you don't believe a word I'm saying. It is so difficult to be stuck in a rut. However, one thing I have learnt is that you can't be stuck in the rut forever.
You need to keep on going. It is okay if you need to take breaks and if you struggle to achieve what you used to have no problem with achieving. Try to take care of your body. No matter how much work is due in for tomorrow, please try to look after yourself and put your happiness first.
The photo is from a dance competition I competed in. I won my category after almost giving in to the negative thoughts in my brain which were criticising my ability, costume and appearance. You will get to that stage where you feel great again.
Please don't give up, warrior. There is still so much of your story left to tell.
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Let's start a compliment chain! Compliment the person above you in the comments and spread some positivity!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter. My DMs are always open for anyone who wants a listener.

Sometimes it can take a gorgeous sunset and trampolining in pyjamas to realise how much beauty there is left in this world.
It can get so tough to the point where you start to question why you're still going. It is okay if you haven't been proud of yourself recently. It is okay if you have been struggling to find beauty in yourself and the world. You can get through this.
The scary thing is, these feelings can make you feel so alone like a cloud has darkness has settled inside your brain forever. However, let me tell you that cloud will move and behind it will be sun. I know how difficult it is. I know how much you have been holding in. It can and will get better.
So, whether you have curled up in bed today or been really productive, try to think of one thing you are grateful for. It is okay if you struggle to have gratitude. You are not selfish. However, try to find at least one thing.
On bad days, the thing you might be grateful for could be the fact that you are still alive. That's okay. Small victories are still worth celebrating.
There is so much beauty left in this world. So many beautiful experiences you haven't had yet, so many beautiful people you haven't met. Please don't end your journey yet.
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What are you grateful for today? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter!

What started as a fun and innocent way for me to share a photo of myself became a necessity. I wouldn't dream of taking a photo without a flower crown or dog face and would beg my friends to use them when taking photos with me.
Snapchat's face filters theoretically give you free access to "perfect" face. They can be seen as a quick fix to discolouration or other insecurities but, more seriously, as a way of feeling beautiful.
Let me tell you now, you don't need any filter to make you beautiful.
Our social media feeds have become filled with similar looking, almost cloned photos, most involving floating hearts or a flower crown around the head. Seeing all of these beautiful photos can make us question our own photos.
The truth is, most of these filters will edit your face in a way that suggests you aren't beautiful as you are. In the photo above, my lighting, nose, eyes, skin and overall face shape were changed. Am I more beautiful in the second photo? No. I am beautiful in both photos and you would be the same.
I am not here to shame anyone for using Snapchat filters. They can be so much fun to use. However, I am here to tell you that you don't need to use them. You are beautiful as you are. The majority of photos you see online are edited and the simplicity of Snapchat illustrates this well.
You are so beautiful. You are such a unique, wonderful and appreciated human who deserves to feel happy. Keep on going.
The unfiltered you is beautiful.
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What is your favourite app to use? Tell me in the comments!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it, keep on going beautiful fighter!

Have you ever looked into a mirror and felt a sudden wave of insecurity? Left the house feeling good about yourself before glancing into a mirror in a public place and wincing at the sight of your face? You are definitely not alone. We have all been in that place!
The truth is, mirrors can sometimes become more of an enemy than a friend and can leave us wondering why we felt confident about our bodies. The harsh lighting in changing rooms can worsen this. I used to walk into a changing room feeling great and walk out wanting to buy anti-wrinkle creams.
When I started looking too closely and obsessing over the smallest features, I began developing unhealthy ritual-like habits. I would pick at any imperfections, tweezers in hand, plucking my eyebrows and squeezing spots until my face was swollen and bleeding.
I want you to know that you are beautiful, no matter what your mirror (or your mind) tells you. We are often our worst critics and have a tendency to pick apart our bodies in ways other people wouldn't. It is okay if you don't have perfect skin, it is okay if that dress doesn't fit on you like it does on the tiny model in the shop. You are human. You are still alive and breathing and that's all that matters. Your imperfections make you beautiful and unique.
Simply changing the negative thoughts and criticism to a simple post-it note reading "You are beautiful" was such an empowering step for me. I am able to look past the tiny imperfections and see just how beautiful I am. You are beautiful too. You may not see it yet but you will one day. Learning how to love yourself can be a difficult process but you will achieve it!
Keep on going, beautiful.
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Tag your favourite body positivity accounts in the comments! I'd love to check out the people you find inspiring!
Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter!

We often don't realise just how long recovery can take and how the process can be a lot messier than presented in the media. Sometimes there isn't a straight road that will take you to the person you want to be.
You don't have to be "better" immediately. Just like with a physical illness, mental illness takes time. The healing process is very difficult and it is okay if you struggle. It is normal to relapse and we often let a wave of guilt come on us when slipping back into old habits. However, we are human. Our mistakes make us human and are the only way of us learning to improve.
You also don't have to feel pressured into being happy for a special occasion. Birthday? Holiday? Sometimes our minds don't like to cooperate and can make what would be expected to be happy times dark. It is okay to express your emotions. For the longest time, I stored away my tears, my problems and my worries, not knowing the light that existed outside of my mind.
I am here to tell you, no matter how many times you have failed at recovery, no matter how many times you have cried at your reflection in the mirror and felt like a failure, it will get better. You will get better. Recovery will happen because you are so strong and valuable to life. However, this process is unique to you and no one else can tell you what you should be doing, what deadlines you should be meeting.
Whilst many of us would long for a guide book telling us exactly what to do, there simply isn't one. You do not have to rush, you do not have to feel guilty when feeling parts of your old self reappear.
I urge you to keep on going. I am so proud of you and so are the people around you. You are a beautiful, worthy and empowering person who deserves life.
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What is your favourite travel location? Tell me in the comments!
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Remember to follow me (@simplyselflove_ ) for daily feel-good posts of positivity. You are worth it. Keep on going beautiful fighter!